The spinning technique is an encasement and is best done on a spindle or a bulky flyer/wheel. It is no fun getting this stuff through a small orifice. First choose 2 pre-spun or commercially spun singles or plyed yarns, figure out which direction is the best to spin in based on what you are using. l choose to spin S twist because this would tighten the twist on my single while loosening the twist on the 2 ply- this ended up creating a balanced novelty yarn.
Spin on your 2 yarns and hold them like you are plying them with both in your left hand.
With your right hand grab your pile of locks and begin catching them in the middle of the 2 cabling yarns. Let the yarns cable together catching the locks, pull the locks forward with the twist, letting them catch and twist as they go. Don't force them on or over twist them, it looks best when they are uneven and some lock ends are loose and free.
Remove and get to work knitting or weaving! Wait until after your project is done before wet finishing and do so with care! You don't want to felt or pill the finished fabric.
If you spin a novelty yarn inspired by these instructions please send me pictures or a link and I will post them here! I think I am going to try dyeing some locks, imagine the color effect if you used multi colored locks... or what if cabled this yarn onto a binder in a boucle technique creating loops or bobbles or coils???
I <3 novelty yarns!!!
